| Term Paper Title |
The Instigator |
| # of Words |
849 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) |
3.4 |
The Instigator
“Benvolio, look upon thy death” (1.1.64). In each rivalry, there are parties of people that hold deeper and more profound hatreds to their foes. Thus, rivalries, especially family feuds, entice people to war amongst each other. This warring between two parties, contorts into an intriguing, yet a deadly plot. Tybalt’s hatred overplays his reason. William Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet, vividly illustrates this behavior of hatred that Tybalt displays and shows how Tybalt’s aggression results in death. Shakespeare portrays Tybalt as a contentious and, at the same time, cordial man of the Capulet family. His hatred toward the Montagues is displayed throughout the play and, profoundly, one sees that Tybalt shares a deeper hatred than even the head of the feud, Capulet. His way of dealing with his hatred is to let it out by aggression. Tybalt is one of the major characters of the play, in the aspect, he is responsible for the major turn of events, as his action turn the preceding part of the play from a short comedy into a full-length tragedy.
On the streets of Verona, Tybalt and his subject run into their warring counterparts, Benvolio and Mercutio, of the Montague household. Being a peaceful man, Benvolio talks of peace, trying to stay away from any further clashes. Nevertheless, at the sound of the word “peace” Tybalt illustrates his animosity toward the Montagues, as he repulsively responds, “I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee” (1.1.68-69). This remark was sparked after a short confrontation, which was stopped by citizens and peace officers. Later in the story, Mercutio describes Tybalt to Benvolio, “O, he is / the courageous caption of compliments. He fights as / you sing prick-song; keeps time, distance, and pro- / portion; rests me him minim rest, one, two, and the / third in your bosom: the very butcher of a silk but- / ton, a duelist, a duelist” (2.4.19-24). This illustrates that Tybalt is not only aggressive, but also very skilled at fighting through which his aggression shines.
Tybalt shares his vigorous and quarrelsome personality with his master, Capulet, at a masked, lavish party held by the Capulets. Tybalt sights Romeo there and is outraged at the intrusion. Tybalt asserts to his uncle, “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe” (1.5.61). Capulet wisely advises and prohibits Tybalt from any violent reaction, stating that Romeo is well loved and respected. Preceding that, Tybalt announces to hi...Read entire document
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